The Cult of the Cool Mac: Made with 100% USDA real meat!

At last, my chance to introduce the Cool-Mac Best Swag Award!

Everybody knows that half the reason for attending an industry event is the free stuff that they give out. In past years, top picks have included free software, live goldfish, the colorful egg-shaped document holder, the essential flashlight key ring, the stress-ball elastic yo-yo, laser pens, bubble-pens, money, free movie tickets, free long distance, water-bottles, backpacks, fanny-packs, hand puppets, toy cars, kazoos, talking glo-balls, clever sticky-notes and Frisbees.

This year, it is my pleasure to extol the virtues of Extensis, whose swag was valuable, appropriate to the venue and quite invigorating. Extensis gave out coupons for a complementary hot dog and soft drink, available from a street vendor outside the Javits Center. On a miserably hot and humid day and when spirits were low after Apple's notorious .Mac announcement, it was a blessed relief to grab some refreshment at the end of the day and before our long train ride home.

Thank you, Extensis. Great swag.